Guy Templeton, Shadow of the Highlands (ANIMALS 2025)

A rare black panther emerges from the darkness of Kenya’s Laikipia plateau, its obsidian coat barely distinguishable from the night. Melanistic leopards like this one are seldom seen in the wild, their elusive nature wrapped in myth and folklore.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.